Bevacizumab 'Raises the Standard'
The gold standard for cancer detection could be raised through the use of bevacizumab, it has been revealed.
Researchers at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer have conducted experiments combining bevacizumab with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging methods.
Bevacizumab binds in higher concentrations to cancerous cells, they discovered, allowing tumours to be highlighted in PET and CT scans.
The researchers are now to undertake further trials to confirm the results before potentially using a similar approach in clinical work on human patients.
Meanwhile, they note that the findings are of particular interest as they identify alternative therapies for drugs already used in the treatment of cancer.
In the case of bevacizumab, the branded equivalent Avastin is distributed by Genentech for advanced lung cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer.
The distributor notes that alternative therapies for which Avastin is used include the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, where it is used in conjunction with paclitaxel.
